According to some Iraqi blogs, Sharia (Muslim law) is replacing secular marriage law in Iraq.
Healing Iraq on this.
Baghdad Burning (Riverbend) on this.
The links have some details on what this changes specifically but it doesn't look good for women, or for non-theocratic control.
This is a very bad sign, I think. Can we at least leave a freedom of religion democracy in place... at least?! I hope so, and so, I guess, do a lot of Iraqis.
The complication is that there might not be a majority in Iraq that feel that way. But democracy is not just about the majority, it survives by protecting the free rights of minorities as well, allowing them the chance to make their views the majority opinion, for example.
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Are we "better off" yet?
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btw, that last question is an oblique Zippy reference. Is Iraq better off yet?